High Tech Tools Preserve Nature for Future Estate

Deep in an exclusive Dallas neighborhood, on a quiet morning, a laser scanning crew gathered.

Their mission? To scan and map two tracts of land, including over 600 trees and two buildings, to make way for an estate home and private museum.

The land’s new owner had managed to gather something truly elusive in this part of Dallas: adjoining properties in a tony enclave, peppered with mature trees. Terra firma worthy of showcasing this art enthusiast’s future home and gallery.

Using 3-D laser scanning and a tree protection plan created by a board-certified master arborist, the project team

The architect for the project will use the 3D laser scans, not only to design the project remotely, but also to develop two unique features:

The buildings’ foundations will be on piers that can be moved in a 6-foot radius, should the preliminary design impact the roots of the tree.

Greg David, master arborist, commented on the unusual nature of the undertaking and his role, “It’s exciting to get in this early on the project and preserve these trees. The roots of these trees extend way way out. Typically, when a contractor wants to save trees, he will draw a circle around the tree, and excavate around that, which doesn’t work because it destroys about 90% of the roots.”

Be sure to head over to the Publications section of our website to read all about this one-of-a-kind project.